Art Montemayor

NPSH Calculations

Sep 19, 1997

1. DEFINITIONS
Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)

The pressure exerted on the liquid at the pump suction minus the
liquid vapor pressure. The NPSH is the result of the following
arithmetic:
The pressure above the source liquid level
plus the elevation of the liquid level above the pumps
suction inlet nozzle
minus the elevation of the pumps suction inlet nozzle
minus the fluids friction loss in the suction line
minus the vapor pressure of the liquid fluid.
All the previous values should be consistent in absolute pressure
units.

Bubble Point Liquid

A liquid at its boiling point (B.P.) at the corresponding pressure.

Sub-cooled Liquid

A liquid at a temperature less than its boiling point.

Vapor Pressure (V.P.)

The pressure exerted by a liquids molecules at the surface. It is a

function of the liquids temperature. When the V.P. equals the
environmental pressure, the liquid is at its boiling point.
The specific gravity of a liquid is the ratio of its weight density at
a specified temperature to that of water at the standard
temperature of 60 oF (62.371 lb/ft3).

Specific Gravity

2. CONVERSIONS
Pressure, Feet of liquid

=
=

(psi) (144 sq. in./sq. ft.) (cu. Ft./62.371 lb) (1/Specific Gravity)
(psi) (2.308/ Specific Gravity)

Flowrate, US gpm

=
=
=

(lb/hr) (hr/60 min) (gal/8.3378 lb)(1/Specific Gravity)

(lb/hr) / (500.268 * Specific Gravity)
(lb/hr) / (500 * Specific Gravity)

3. CALCULATING THE NPSH

a) Do not take credit for liquid levels in tanks, vessels, etc. The pump must be able to work even when
the level in the source vessel approaches zero height;
b) Use the specific gravity existing at the pumping temperature. (The fluids specific gravity is a
function of its temperature);
c) Most pump suctions are 2 - 3 feet above grade if the pump base is at grade;
d) Suction lines are usually sized for 0.1 - 0.2 psi/100 ft. In calculating the NPSH, one can usually
assume 0.2 psi for a suction line pressure drop;and,
e) Very few pumps require more than 12 - 15 ft of available NPSH (NPSHa); rarely is more than 20 feet
needed. (Exceptions are: multi-stage boiler feed water pumps pumping boiling water over a pressure
drop of 200 - 600 psi)

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Art Montemayor

NPSH Calculations

Sep 19, 1997

EXAMPLE 1:
A boiling liquid (or Bubble Point liquid) pumped out of an open tank:
Pressure existing @ the pump suction is
Pressure above liquid
Tank bottom elevation
Pump suction elevation
Suction friction loss

=
=
=
=

Press. @ pump suction

Fluid Vapor Pressure
Available NPSH

=
=
=

14.7 psia
0.2 psia
14.7 psia

=
=
=
=

34 ft
+10 ft
- 3 ft
-0.5 ft

=
=
=

40.5 ft
-34 ft
6.5 ft

If the pump size or the liquid flow rate dictate more

available NPSHa, the source tank should be raised or the
suction line size increased until the total NPSHa is in
excess of the minimum required.

Atmospheric,
Open Tank

water @ 212 oF

900"
Friction = 0.2 psi
10 ft

EXAMPLE 2:

3 ft

A non-boiling liquid (or subcooled liquid) pumped out

of an open tank:
Pressure existing @ the pump suction is
Pressure above liquid
Tank bottom elevation
Pump suction elevation
Suction friction loss

=
=
=
=

Press. @ pump suction

Fluid Vapor Pressure
Available NPSH

=
=
=

14.7 psia
0.2 psia
1.0 psia

=
=
=
=

34 ft
+10 ft
- 3 ft
-0.5 ft

=
=
=

40.5 ft
-2.3 ft
38.2 ft

Atmospheric,
Open Tank

water @ 100 oF

900
"

Specify the NPSHa as 34 ft

NOTE: Very few pumps need more than 20 ft of NPSHa.

10 ft

The source tank can be lowered, if desired.

3 ft

Page 2 of 3

Friction = 0.2 psia

Art Montemayor

NPSH Calculations

Sep 19, 1997

EXAMPLE 3:
A non-boiling liquid (or subcooled liquid) pumped out of a vented tank:
The vapor pressure of gasoline @ 100 oF = 7.0 psia
The Specific Gravity of gasoline @ 100 oF = 0.7
Pressure existing @ the pump suction is
Pressure above liquid
Tank bottom elevation
Pump suction elevation
Suction friction loss

=
=
=
=

Press. @ pump suction

Fluid Vapor Pressure
Available NPSH

=
=
=

14.7 psia
0.2 psia
7.0 psia

=
=
=
=

49 ft
+3 ft
- 3 ft
-0.7 ft

=
=
=

48.3 ft
-23.0 ft
25.3 ft

Gasoline @

100 oF
3 ft

Specify the NPSHa as 22 ft and state Flooded Suction.

EXAMPLE 4:
Sub-cooled liquid in a pit or a sump Pressure existing @ the pump suction is
Pressure above liquid
Tank bottom elevation
Pump suction elevation
Suction friction loss

=
=
=
=

Press. @ pump suction

Fluid Vapor Pressure
Available NPSH

=
=
=

14.7 psia
0.2 psia
1.0 psia

=
=
=
=

34 ft
+0 ft
- 0 ft
-0.5 ft

=
=
=

33.5 ft
-2.3 ft
31.2 ft

Cooling Water Tower

Specify the NPSHa as 27 ft and state Flooded Suction.

It is recommended that the calculated NPSHa be specified on pump specification data sheets as 85 90%
of the calculated value in order to have a contingency for suction stream variations.

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